Best Things to Do in Palm Springs, CA With Kids
Palm Springs' best family days are the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, a Joshua Tree National Park day trip, a resort pool day (already included in most stays), the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, and a jeep or windmill tour of the San Gorgonio Pass wind farm — all best done outside the brutal summer months.
Want a resort shortlist for your Palm Springs trip too?
60-second match. Free. No email required to see picks.
1Area photo: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
The rotating tram car climbs 2.5 miles from the desert floor to Mountain Station at 8,500 feet in under 15 minutes, dropping the temperature 30–40 degrees and swapping cactus for pine forest. There are easy trails at the top for families and a restaurant with a view.
Watch out: Weekend and holiday lines for the tram itself can run 45–60 minutes at the base — buy tickets online and go early. It's noticeably colder and windier at the top than the desert floor; bring a light jacket even in summer.
2Area photo: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Joshua Tree National Park Day Trip
About an hour from Palm Springs, Joshua Tree's boulder fields and namesake trees are genuinely alien-looking and endlessly climbable for kids. Hidden Valley and Barker Dam are short, flat loop trails that work for younger kids; older kids can scramble the rock piles near the road.
Watch out: There is almost no shade anywhere in the park — bring more water than feels necessary and skip midday visits June through September. Cell service is unreliable; download offline maps before you go.
3Area photo: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Resort Pool Day
The genuine default Palm Springs family activity. Most resorts and even midrange hotels here are built around the pool — multiple pools, water features, and cabanas are standard, and it's already covered by your room rate.
Watch out: If you want to day-trip into a resort pool you're not staying at, day passes at nicer properties run $40–75 per person and some don't sell them to families with young kids on weekends. Midday summer pool time still needs real sun protection — the desert sun is intense even in water.
4Area photo: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
A real zoo in nearby Palm Desert built around desert and African savanna ecosystems, with cheetahs, giraffes, and a strong children's discovery area with a model village and animal encounters. A better fit for younger kids than Joshua Tree's rougher terrain.
Watch out: Very little shade between exhibits — go first thing in the morning, especially outside the cooler winter months. Some animal encounter add-ons (giraffe feeding, etc.) cost extra and book up.
5Area photo: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Palm Springs Windmill Tour
A jeep tour through the San Gorgonio Pass wind farm — thousands of turbines up close, with a guide who explains how they generate power and points out the microclimate that makes the pass one of the windiest places in the country. A genuinely different outing than the usual desert-and-pool rotation.
Watch out: This is priced per person, not per family, so it adds up fast for a family of 4 — treat it as a splurge day, not a default. Open-air jeep tours can be dusty and loud; not a great fit for kids sensitive to either.
Frequently asked
Is Palm Springs a good family destination in summer?
Not really outdoors. Palm Springs regularly hits 110–115°F from June through September, which makes daytime outdoor activities genuinely unsafe for kids, not just uncomfortable. Plan a pool-and-AC trip in summer, or visit October through April for outdoor days.
Do we need a car to do Joshua Tree and the Living Desert Zoo?
Yes. Both are outside walkable Palm Springs — Joshua Tree is about an hour east, the Living Desert Zoo about 15–20 minutes to Palm Desert. Rideshares work but a rental car is more practical for a day of stop-and-go sightseeing.
What's the best Palm Springs activity for toddlers?
The resort pool, hands down. The Living Desert Zoo's children's area works well for 2–5 year olds too. Joshua Tree's rougher terrain and the tramway's cold, windy summit are better suited to kids 4 and up.
How much should we budget for activities on a 5-day Palm Springs trip?
Plan $450–$700 for a family of 4 doing the tramway, a Joshua Tree day, and the Living Desert Zoo, with the rest of the trip covered by the pool, which is already in your room cost.
Things to do in similar destinations
Same family-activity angle, different destination.
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Cancun
Xel-Há All-Inclusive Eco Park · Xcaret Park (Plus Pass) · Chichen Itza + Cenote + Valladolid Day-Trip
Things to do in Cancun →
FL, United States
Orlando
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Day · Gatorland — Florida's Original Attraction · Discovery Cove (Reserved-Day, All-Inclusive)
Things to do in Orlando →
Plan a full Palm Springs family trip
Tell the Advisor your kids' ages, your budget, and your travel window. We'll match a resort, an activity stack, and the booking-window math that beats peak pricing.